By Janhvi Ahuja
Pune: In light of the “concerning increase” in dog bites, the Supreme Court mandated on Friday the removal of stray dogs from education institutions, hospitals, bus terminals, sports complexes and railway stations, instructing that dogs must be transported to their designated shelters.
A panel consisting of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, which is overseeing stray dog bite cases through a suo moto proceeding, ordered the authorities to prevent dogs from accessing the premises of government and public institutions. Furthermore, it stated that dogs must not be returned to the locations from which they were collected.
The court instructed local municipal authorities to conduct regular inspections of all facilities to ensure that no stray dogs return to their habitats and resume living there. “Every stray dog must be promptly removed from such locations and taken to shelters following sterilization,” it emphasized. The court also mentioned that this removal process should be completed within eight weeks.
It also observed that all states and union territories are required to take action to address the deficiencies pointed out by the amicus curiae (court-appointed attorney) regarding adherence to the ABC regulations mandated by the court.
The bench stated that detailed affidavits must be submitted before the next hearing, outlining corrective actions to address the deficiencies identified in the report. “Any negligence will be taken seriously,” it remarked.
The court was addressing a suo moto case that commenced on July 28, prompted by a report concerning stray dog bites that resulted in rabies and affected young children in the national capital.
Additionally, the court instructed all state and union territories, the National Highway Authority and municipal bodies to guarantee the removal of stray dogs, cattle and other animals from national and state highways, and various roads. It also mandated the establishment of specialized highway patrol teams that are tasked with managing stray cattle and other animals on these roads.
“Helpline numbers for reporting stray cattle will be established on all national highways. The chief secretaries of all states will be responsible for ensuring strict compliance with these directives,” it stated.
In July, the top court ordered that all stray dogs in the national capital and surrounding areas must be relocated from residential neighbourhoods to shelters, due to the increasing incidents of dog bites and aggression resulting in rabies. The court specified that these shelters should employ professionals who shall be able to manage stray dogs, performing sterilization and immunization for them.
Furthermore, the court also ordered for creation of designated feeding spots for individuals to feed stray dogs, emphasizing that public feeding is prohibited and violations against this rule will be taken seriously, creating stringent consequences.